Research Action Plan (RAP) Stage 1 includes several projects that increase our understanding of what’s distinctive about New Zealand’s building and construction sector, and how it behaves, so we know where we can make changes to improve productivity.
Key projects
| • | Systems Mapping Project |
| • | Value Stream Mapping Project |
| • | Volume Builders Project |
| • | Case Studies of Successful Projects |
Key findings
Collectively, these projects highlight the following opportunities to improve productivity:
Residential construction
| • | Moving to design and build in parallel. |
| • | Improving project management, such as better scheduling of resources on site. |
| • | Moving to an online consenting process. |
| • | Adopting technical solutions to reduce weather delays. |
| • | Increasing use of standardisation, while still meeting clients’ desire for individual design. |
| • | Recognising that productivity drivers are different for large, group home builders and small individual firms so solutions differ for each. |
Commercial construction
| • | Educating clients for more informed decisions at a project’s early planning stages, based on whole-of-life value rather than lowest, upfront cost. |
| • | Increasing focus on non-technical skills such as communication, project planning and a positive project culture. |
| • | Identifying and actively managing potential risks. |
| • | Actively managing supply chain and procurement strategy. |
| • | Using smart technology, such as three-dimensional modelling, and ensuring different technology platforms are compatible. |
| • | Learning from other projects. |